Competition is one of the many cornerstones of DECA. Through real world application and professional development, it improves the quality of each and every DECA member who participates in it. Some of the greatest feelings associated with competition are winning and your hard work paying off. With this summer’s abundance of time, there are steps you can take in order to stay competitive and achieve those feeling. When preparing for competition, there are always a couple questions you should keep in mind. 1.What am I passionate about? You need to find an area that catches your attention and keeps you enthralled. If you want your judge to be interested in your presentation, you need to be interested in it yourself. 2.How do I make an impression? Judges will see many presentations and role-plays on the day you present. It’s important that you find something that makes you stand out above the rest of your competitors. 3.How can I be the best? Be thorough. Read until you feel like your eyes are going to pop out and then read some more. There are people who will be just as driven as you; use your creativity and your know-how to make yourself and your projects better. Competitors are always on the prowl, so there’s no better time to start than the present. Use your time effectively and get a head start for the new school year! In the meantime, I hope your summer is going well. Have fun! J